Taking competitive aim at services such as Tubi TV and Crackle, Vudu, the Walmart-owned OTT, has launched a free, ad-supported offering called Vudu Movies on Us.
Vudu said the new ad-based option features “thousands” of movies and TV shows in 1080p and in Dolby Digital sound (when available). Examples of Vude’s free, ad-supported titles include Mad Max (1980), True Grit (2010), School of Rock, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Star Trek X- Nemesis, Out of Time,Sliding Doors, and The Phantom of the Opera.
Vudu said the new service is its first move into free, HD streaming and follows recent upgrades to its traditional EST service that includes support for titles in 4K/UHD with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos Audio.
“Millions of customers already buy and rent content on Vudu on a monthly basis. This new service provides value for customers who want to watch movies and TV for free, when and how they wish to watch, without sacrificing quality,” Jeremy Verba, VP and GM of Vudu, said in a statement.
To access Vudu’s new free fare, viewers must login to Vudu via a Web browser, mobile or connected TV device, click on the “New” tab on their desktop or “Spotlight” tab on their mobile or living room device, and then click on the “Movies on Us” option.
Vudu supports a wide range of streaming platforms, including certain smart TVs and Blu-ray players, Roku devices, Chromecast adapters, iOS and Android mobile devices, Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles, PS4 and PS3 consoles, and the new Android TV-powered, 4K-capable Mi Box.
